Security hiked at Cologne cathedral for Christmas amid attack threat
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BERLIN – German police said on Dec 23 that they were heightening security at Cologne Cathedral following indications of an attack planned for New Year’s Eve and in the wake of recent government warnings about the rising threat of Islamist violence.
The police said in a statement they would use tracker dogs to check the cathedral after evening mass and then close it off.
On Dec 24, they would carry out a security check on all visitors, and recommended that visitors get to Christmas Eve services early.
Police said they could not elaborate, citing the investigation.
German newspaper Bild earlier reported that the security authorities in Austria, Germany and Spain had received indications that an Islamist group wants to carry out attacks during the Christmas and New Year events.
In recent weeks, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned of the rising threat of Islamist violence in Germany and elsewhere in Europe as the Israel-Hamas war
Austrian police said in a statement they were increasing security at churches and Christmas markets given a heightened state of alert.
“Given that terrorist actors throughout Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events, especially around Dec 24, the security authorities have taken the corresponding protection measures in public spaces,” the police said.
The Spanish Interior Ministry announced at the beginning of December a reinforcement of security measures from Dec 18 for the Christmas holidays, with the anti-terrorism alert at level 4 or “high risk”, as it has been since June 2015. REUTERS
